Method and apparatus for the manufacture of boats



June 24, 1,930. P. THOMPSON IETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BDATS Filed Aug, 2. 1929 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE" PETER THOMPSON, OF PESHTIGO, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORTO THOMPSON BROS. BOAT MFG. OO., OF PESHTIGO, WISCONSIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF BOATS Application filed August 2, 1929. Serial No. 383,097.

This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for the manufacture of boats, such as launches, rowboats, skiffs, and other light craft, and more particularly to the hulls of such crafts.

The invention has primarily for its object the provision of a new and improved method of assembling and attaching smooth jointed planking to the transverse ribs of the hull,

whereby the strips are securely held, under pressure, in abutted position, and against the ribs during the securing operation, thus insuring tightly compressed seams between the planking, and materially facilitating the asseinbling operation, which results in reduced cost of manufacture, and avoids the necessity of highly skilled laborers.

Incidental to the foregoing, a further object resides in the provision of a simple and etlicient apparatus by which the above method may be practiced.

A more specific object is to provide a fleXible clamping device which will readily adjust itself to the shape or contour of the hull,

to securely hold the planking against the ribs, and by which any desired pressure may be exerted upon the planking to hold the assembled strips in a tight abutting engage ment during the securing operation.

lVith the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description pro coeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof. 7

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a transverse section through the hull of a boat in the course of construction, and Figure 2 is a detail plan view of the appa- 5o ratus employed.

It is common practice in the manufacture of boats to construct the hull over a pattern or form, which determines its shape. Therefore, referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 designates the conventional form comprising the usual transverse braces 2, over which a sheeting 3 is provided. a

In constructing the hull, the transverse ribs 4 are positioned over the form at spaced intervals and may be secured thereto in any suitabl'emanner. Directly beneath each rib, the form is provided with a corresponding transverse metal strip 5 for the purpose hereinafter described. After the transverse ribs are positioned over the form, a keel G is secured to the ribs in any conventional manner.

hen the skeleton of the hull has been as sembled in the manner described heretofore, it has beenthe common practice to secure one strip of planking to the transverse ribs at a time, which operation depends entirely upon the skill of the workman to secure tight abutted joints between the adjacent strips of planking. Obviously, where a workman is required to hold a strip of planking in place, as the same is attached to the transverse ribs, very little pressure can be obtained to se cure a tight engagement between the abutting oins of the planking strips.

The present method and apparatus, which aims to overcome the foregoing objections, contemplates assembling the strips of planking upon the transverse ribs and thereafter applying pressure to hold the strips against the transverse ribs and also secure a tight engagement between the abutting edges of the planking strips during the operation of attaching the same to the transverse ribs.

1 The foregoing is accomplished bythe provision of a flexible clamp which engages the work and shapes itself to the contour of the hull. The preferred form of clamp com prises a flexible metal stra 7 which is laid transversely of the planking and engages the same to hold the strips 8 in assembled: position on the transverse ribs. One end of the strap 7 is provided with spaced brackets 9 which carry atransverse stud 10, A clevis 11, which engages the stud 10 and the keel, serves to anchor one end of the strap to the work. The opposite end of the strap 7 is provided with a hook 12 for the reception of a U-bolt 13 which carries the frame of a pressure jack 14. While the jack 14 may be of any conventional structure for creating the desired pressure, for the purpose of illustration, a screw-type jack is employed, which comprises a screw 15 having slidable engagement with the frame of the jack. Bevel gears 16 impart movement to the jack screw,

which carries a clamp 17 that engages one edge of the work.

From the foregoing explanation, the method employed and the operation of the apparatus will be quite apparent, in that the planking 8 is assembled in joined position on the transverse ribs, after which the strap 7 is positioned over the planking and anchored at one end by the clevice 11 which engages the keel. The pressure jack 14 is then positioned on the hook 12 and the clamp 17 engaged with the opposite end of the work, after which the jack is actuated to create the desired pressure for drawing the strips of planking together to, secure tight abutting engagement.

The strips of planking may then be secured to the transverse ribs 4 by the usual tacks or screws. In instances where tacks are employed, the inner ends of the same are turned or clinched on the interior of the ribs by means of the transverse metal strips 5 carried by theform. After the planking has been secured to the ribs, the jack may be quickly released and, the clamp "removed from the work, leaving the planking in finished condition in which extremely tight and secure butt joints are provided. The apparatus may then be reversed to the opposite side of the hull and the operation repeated.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that an extremely simple and. eflicient method has been provided for the construction of a hull which not only obtains a tighter and more secure butt joint between the planking, but which also materially .facilitates the operation of attaching the same and avoids the necessity ofskilled labor.

I claim:

A device of the class described comprising a flexible strap for engaging abutting strips positioned over a circular form with a keel at the intermediate portion of the form, spaced brackets carried by one end of the strap, a transverse stud engaged with the brackets, a clevis engaging the stud, and the keel for retaining the strap in position at one end, a hook member carried by the other end of the strap and a pressure jack carrying a U-bolt adapted to be engaged with the hook on the strap with the pressure jack bearing against one edge of the outermost consin.

PETER THOMPSON. 

